Winding device for spring motors



Aug. 11, 1925.

J. R. TOMLIN WINDING DEVICE FOR SPRING MOTORS 4 Shees-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1921 Aug. 11, 1925. 1,549,234

J. R. TOMLIN WINDING DEVICE FOR SPRING MOTORS Filed Feb. 1 1921 4' Sheets-Sheet 2 '40 tit 501.4 Tia/V Q Q &

Q I m Aug. 11, 1925. 1,549,234

J. R. TOMLIN WINDING DEVICE FOR SPRING MOTORS Filed Feb. 16, 1921 4 Sheets-Shet 3 ||||mmum ,1

Aug. 1 1, I925.

W f A v J. R. TOMLIN WINDING DEVICE FOR SPRING MOTORS Fild F 16, l 21 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 11, 11925.

PATENT QF F'IQ'E",

JOHN R. TOMLIN, on ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

WINDING DEVICE FOR SPRING MOTORS.

Application filed Februarylfi, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R; TOM-LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alexandria, in the county of Alexandria and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Winding Devices for Spring Motors, or" which the following. is a specification.

This invention relates to winding clevices for spring motors and has particular reference to automatically operated winding devices used in connection with the spring motors employed as the power unit of phonographs.

It has been deemed inadvisable, because of certain acoustical reasons, to employ mechanically operated devices tor-automatically restoring energy to the spring of the phonograph motor during the playing of a record, and it is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide, in a device of the above mentioned character, a means whereby the period of record changing may be automatically taken advantage of for the restoration of energy to the phonograph spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character mentioned, a means for insuring against electri cal short circuiting under all conditions of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, and reliable and positive in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when studying V the following description in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device taken on line 11 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a switch element;

Figure 4 is a face view of a pair of commu-tatorrings showing the same electrically disconnected Figure 5 is a similar view to that of Fig- Serial No. 445,374.

ure 4 showing the commutator rings elecitrically connected.

Figures 6 to 9 inclusive are views showing in elevation modified tormsof switches;

Figure 10 is an. edge elevation of the switch shown in Figure 9; i

Figurell is a sectional view taken on line 1,11l of Figure 10; Y

Figure 12is a central sectional view of a worm gear;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of a phonograph. having the device embodying my in.- vention applied thereto; 5

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system employed;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view through a switch box having a tone arm operated switch located therein, the switch being shownas open;

Figure 16 is a similar view to that of F igure 15, the switch being shown closed;

Figure 17 is a horizontal sectional view through the switch box shown in Figures 15 and 16, the switch being shown in top plan;

Figure 18 is a sectional view through the turn table and center post showing a record operated switch in edge elevation and opened;

Figure 19 is a similar view to that of Figure 18, the switch being shown closed;

Figure 20 is a top plan view of a brake operated switch;

Figure 21' is a vertical sectional view of the switch box shown in Figure 20, the switch'being shown open and in edge elevation; I

Figure 22 is a modified form of record operated switch;

Figure is a detailed view of a governor operated switch; and

Figure Qis a perspective view of a switch arm.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the. preferred forms of my invention, the numeral 10 indicates a phonograph. provided with the usual spring motor, not shown, the laterally movable tone arm 11, turn table 12, and brake13.

The device for automatically winding the phonograph spring is adapted to be. attached to thefphonograph as shown in Figure 13 and consists of an electric motor 14, the armature shaft of which is extended in the form of a worm shaft which meshes with a worm gear 16 arranged within a gear box 17 preferably formed integral with the motor 14, as shown. The worm gear may be cut entirely from fiber, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or it may consist of a main body 16 of fiber carrying an annular metallic toothed band 18, as shown in Figure 12. The gear 16 is loosely mounted upon a shaft 19 suitably journaled within the gear box 17 and is provided with a pair of contact rings 20 adapted to'engage a pair of spring pressed contact points 21 suitably mounted within an insulating plug 22 carried by the gear box 17.

To one end of the shaft 19 is secured an arm 23 having a hub portion 24 about which a torsional spring 25 is coiled, the ends 26 and 27 of which engage screws 28 and 29 carried respectively by the gear 16 and arm 23, thereby providing a yieldable driving connection between the gear 16 and the shaft 19. To the gear 16 is pivotally connected a switch lever 30 by means of a pivot contact screw 31 passed through the gear 16 and having engagement with one of the rings 20. The switch lever at its pivotal end is wedge shape to provide cam faces 32, over which a cam 33, carried by a spring arm 34, rides, thereby moving the switch to make or break the electrical circuit as will hereinafter be described, the switch lever 30 being limited in its movement, when opened, by a stop 35 carried by the gear 16 and likewise limited when closing by a contact 36, carried by the gear 16 and having electrical contact with one of the rings 20. The spring arm 34, as clearly shown in Figure 1, is secured to the arm 23 by means of the screw 29 which, as hereinbefore stated, engages the end 27 of springr25, and is insulated from both the arm 23 and the spring arm 34 by suitable insulating material 37 y In Figures 6 to 11 inclusive I have shown modified forms of switches which may be substituted for the switch mechanism herembefore described. These switches like the one already described are designed to quickly make or break the circuit at the proper instant during the operation of the device and utilize the pivot contact screw 31, the stop 35, and the contact 36 in their assembly. The switch 38 consists of a barrel 39 pivotally connected to the pivotal contact screw 31. The barrel 39 carries a re-.

ciprocating plunger 40 which is provided with a cone shaped end 41 which is urged by means of a spring 42 carried by the plunger 40, mto intimate engagement with a cam 43 carried by the hub 24, but insulated therefrom by means of suitable insulating material 44. The switch shown in Figure 7 consists of a switch lever 45 formed of fiber or other suitable insulating material to which is secured metallic facing strips 46 and 47.

The end of lever 45 which carries facing strips 47 is beveled and is adapted to engage the cone shaped end 48 of a reciprocat- 8 I have shown the switch lever 51 pivotally connected to the pivot contact screw 31 and provlded at one end with an insulating pin 52 to which is connected one end of a spring 53, the spring 53 being connected at its opposite end to an insulating pin 54 carried by the lever 23. Figures 9, 10 and 11 show in detail a pivoted reciprocating switch 55 which consists of a switch lever 56 having an. elongated slot 57 cut therein which is somewhat widened at one end, as shown, to permit the insertion of a grooved block 58 which is pivotally connected to the pivot contact screw 31, the grooves of the block 58 being adapted to receive the opposite sides of the switch lever 56, as shown, in Figure 11. One end of the switch lever 56 is beveled, the beveled faces 59 of which are adapted to ride over the faces of the cam 60 which is carried by the hub 24 and insulated therefrom by insulating material 61. In Figures 13 to 17 inclusive, I have illustrated a switch 62 which is disposed inthe circuit of the motor 14 and adapted to be actuated by the tone arm 11 when it is moved into and out of playing position. The switch 62 comprises a switch box 63, which is secured to the top of the phonograph in proximity to the tone arm 11. The switch box is cut away at one end thereof, as shown at 64, to permit the entrance of a depending arm 65 carried by the tone arm 11, the depending arm being provided at its end with an insulating boot 66 which is adapted to contact with a spring lever 67 pivotally connected to a pair of transversely disposed pins 68.

Within the switch box 63 there is also arranged a contact arm 69 which is secured to a transversely disposed bar 70. The bar 70 and the pin 68 in nearest proximity thereto serve as terminals to which conductors T1 are connected, the conductors being in turn connected in series with the motor 14, as clearly illustrated in Figure 14. The switch mechanism 62 provides for the closing of the circuit through the motor 14, the con-- tact points 21, contact rings 20,'switch lever 30, pivoted contact screw 31, contact 36, and conductors 71, during the record changing period, assuming of course that the switch 30, or any modification thereof shown in Figures 6 to 11 inclusive and hereinbefore described, is closed.

The switch 62 when open, as shown in tit) Figure 15, is closed by reasonof the arm being moved into contact with the spring arm 67 when the tonearm 11 is moved from over the record to permit a changing thereof. A quick closing of the switch is desirable, and. this is made possible by the inherent resiliency of the spring, arm 67 due to its normal curvature or distortion. When the tone-arm 11 is moved to playing position over the record the arm 65 is moved into contact with the free end of the spring arm 67., and as the arm 65 moves over the free end. of the arm 67 the spring arm 67 is quickly moved to the position shown in Figure 15 out of engagement with the contact arm 69.

in Figures 18 and 191 have shown modified forms of switches which may be conveniently substituted for that shown in Figures 13 to 17 and hereinbetore described. Figures 18 and 19 illustrate in combination with the phonograph turn table 7 2 a switch mechanism, indicated as a whole by the numeral 73, which is designed to be opened in placing the phonograph record 74 on the turnv table to prevent winding of the spring motor during the presence of a record on the turn table, and to close in removing the record, in order that energy under proper conditions may be automatically restored to the phonograph motor spring.

The switch 73 includes a resilient operating lever 75, arranged within a groove 76 formed in the center post 77, and is hingedly connected thereto as shown at 78. To one end of the switch lever is connected an insulating member 79 which carries a pair of resilient fingers 80, the free ends of which are adapted to engage a pair oi metallic rings 81 which are thereby electrically connected, the rings being carried by a suitable insulating material 81 and connected by conductors 71 in circuit with the electric motor 14 through the switch mechanism shown in Figures 4 and 5 or any modification thereof shown in Figures 6 to 11 inelusive.

In Figures 20 and 21, I have shown a modified form of switch 82 designed to perform the same function as that shown in Figures 13 to 19 inclusive. The switch 82 now under consideration consists of a switch box 83 adapted to be secured to the phonograph top in proximity to the conventional form of stop mechanism or brake 84: having a lever 8 1 which carries a depending pin 85 provided at its end with an insulating cap 86; Within the switch box 82 is arranged a pair of resilient contact arms 87 which are normally spaced apart and secured toan insulating block 88.

The contact arms 87 are adapted to be brought into engagement. with each other by the coacting pin 85 as it rides over the cam face 87 of the one arm when the brake lever 84 is moved to actuate the stop mechanism or brake 84 and are connected to the conductors 71 which are, as hereinbefore mentioned, connected in circuit with the electric motor ll.

In Figure 22 I have shown a switch mech-- anism 89, which, like that shown in Figi'ires 18 and 19, is maintained in open position by the presence of the record 7% on the turn table 7 2'. The switch 89 consists of a sleeve 90 depending from the turn table 72 and carrying a plunger 91 which is urged upward by means of a spring 92. The plunger 91 is prevented from rotating by means of a pin 93extending into a groove 9% formed inthe plunger, and this plunger carries at itslower end an insulating bar 95 to which is secured a metallic contact plate'96. The contact plate 96 is designed to bridge the pair of contact rings 97 which are secured to a suitable insulating material 97 and to which the conductors 71 are connected. It is apparent that, during the presence of the record 74: on the turn table it is impossible to establish a circuit through the motor and it is further apparent that under certain conditions the circuit through the motor 1-1 may be established by removing the record 74'.

A governor actuated circuit controller is illustrated in Figures 23 and 24 in which the numeral 98 indicates a conventional governor mechanism employing the usual re ciprocating friction disk 99 which carries a metallic band 100 insulated from the main body of the disk by means of an annular filler of insulating material 101.

The metallic band 100 is adapted to engage a composit circuit controlling switch arm 102 which is pivotally connected to a depending bracket conductor 103 secured to a suitable insulating material 10% and is maintained infirm contact at all times with the band 100 by means of a spring 105 having one end connected to the arm 102, the other end thereof being connected to the bracket conductor 108. The switch arm consists of a pair of metallic plates 106 separated by means of an insulating strip 107 which is enlarged at one end as shown, the enlarged end forming an insulating plate 107 completely bridging the metallic plates 106. The bracket conductor 103 consists of a pair of depending arms 108 spaced from each other and provided with terminal posts 109 to which the conductors 71. are connected. It is apparent from the above description of the disclosure shown in Figures 23 and .24 that the motor 1 1 is rendered inactive during the operation of the phonograph motor by reason of the fact that immediately the phonograph motor begins to operate, the disk 99 normally bridging the metallic plates 106, is moved onto the insulating plate 107 thereby severing electrical com Cal munication between the metallic plates 106' which are normally connected in circuit with the electric motor 14 through the switch mechanism shown in Figures 4 and 5 or any modification thereof shown in Figures 6 to 11 inclusive.

In use the operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the device is connected to the phonograph and the several switch elements of the device are positioned as shown in Figure 5, the elements being thus positioned due to the release of tension in the phonograph spring, and that the switches shown in Figures 13 to 23 inclusive are closed during the record changing period, current will be supplied to the motor 14 due to the fact that the switches in circuit therewith are closed. The operation of the motor 14 will cause the worm gear 16 to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown, thereby driving the shaft in this direction through the yieldable connection shown as a spring 25. It is to be understood that the resistance offered by the spring 25 remains uniform during the winding operation or nearly so, but that the resistance offered the turning action of the shaft by the phonograph spring increasesas the tension of the phonograph spring is increased.

A differential movement therefore results between the shaft 19 and the gear 16, the shaft being slightly retarded in its rotation while the speed of the gear 16 remains uniform, or substantially so. Due to the retardation of the shaft 19 the cam 33 is moved against the infiuence'of its spring arm 34 over the apex of the cam faces 32, whereupon the switch lever is quickly snapped to the position shown in Figure 2, thereby breaking the circuit through the motor 14 leaving the spring of the phonograph in a wound condition. As the tension is released. from the phonograph spring the unbalancing of the tension between the phonograph. spring and the spring 25 permits the spring 25 to move the shaft in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2, whereupon the cam 3-3 is moved over one cam face 82 of the switch lever 30 to the opposite face thereof. The cam 34 is shown in Figure 4 as just cros ing the apex of the switch lever 30 whereupon the switch lever32 is quickly moved from its position shown in Figures 2 and 4 to the position shown in Figure 5. ahe movement of the switch lever 30 from its position shown in Figures 2 and 4to the position shown in Figure 5 would result in a closing of the circuit through the motor 14 if the switch shown in Figures '13 to 17 inclusive or any substitution or'modification thereof shown in Figures 20 to 23 inclusive were closed; but it happens how-- ever that the switch arm 30 is moved to circuit closing position during the opera tion of the phonograph motor and consequently the motor 14 is rendered inopera tive during the playing of the record by reason of the fact that with any one of the switches 13 to 24 disposed inthe circuit of the motor 14, the circuit is necessarily maintained open during the playingof a record. Should the switch lever 30 move to circuit closing position during the playing of a record it is apparent from Figures 13 to 17 that the switch shown therein will be closed when the tone arm 11 is swung from over the turn table 12 to permit a changing of the record, whereupon the phonograph spring of the phonograph motor will be wound during the record changing period. 1

Should the switch lever 30 be moved to circuit closing position during the playing of a record it is apparent that with the form of switch shown in Figures 18, 19 and 22 disposed in the circuit of the motor 14 that the motor 14 would be rendered inoperative during the playing of the record by reason of the fact that the circuit is maintained open just so long as the record is resent on the turn table. But on the other hand if the switch lever 30 is in circuit closing position when the record is being removed from the turn table the circuit through the motor 14 will be closed by reason of the fact that the switch shown in Figures 18 and 19 or that shown in Figure 22 is closed during the removal of the record so that a winding of the phonograph motor spring is effected during the record changing period. Should the switch lever 80 be moved to circuit closing position during the playing of a record, a switch of the type shown in F igure 20 will render the motor 14 inop erative due to the fact that the switch must necessarily be open during the playing of the record, it being opened by the release of thebrake mechanism 84 which when released permits a turning of the turn table. In case however the switch lever 30 has assumed circuit closing position during the playing of a record the circuit through the motor 14'will be completed when the switch is closed by applying the brake 84, Whereupon the motor 14 is actuated to effect a winding of the phonograph motor during the record changing period.

And now in considering the form of switch shown in Figures 23 and 24, it is apparent that should the switch lever 30 cuit closing position during the playing of a record the record changing periodwill be taken advantage of automatically to efiect a winding of the phonograph motor due to the fact that the circuit through the switch 103 is closed when the contact plates 106 are electrically connected by the metallic band 100 which is brought into contact herewith by the longitnd l movement of the disc 99 to its normal position.

It is thought that in view of the hereinbefore described operation of the circuit closing means shown in Figures 4 and 5 no elaborate description asto the operation of the switches shown in Figures (5 to 11, which may be readily substituted for the switch lever 30, the cam 33, and switch arm as shown in Figures 4 and 5, is necessary any further than to mention that the switch 38 is thrown iii-one direction, and then in the other direction by the action of the cone she. led end 41 upon the cam 43, the direction of throw being dependent upon the direction. of travel ofthe shaft 19.

. The operation of the switch shown in Figure 7 is substantially the sameas that of the switch shown in Figure 6 except however that the plunger 48 is carried by the shaft 19 instead of by the barrel 38 to impart a thrusting action upon the switch lever 16.

The switch shown in Figure 8 is thrown in or out of circuit closing position by the action of the spring on one side or the other of the pivotal center of the lever 5, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 19 with respect to the gear 16.

The switch shown in Figures 9 to 11 in elusive is moved from right to left or viceversa depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 19, by the action between the cam 60 and the faces 59 of the switch lever 56 and the action of the spring 57.

Hav'ag thus described my invention what I claim new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is 1, A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor, having a motor circuit, a worm driven by the electric motor, a shaft adapted to be connected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft and adapted to mesh with said worm, yieldable means connecting said shaftwith said gear for permitting a variable movement between said shaft and gear, a circuit closer carried by said gear, and means co-operatively associatedwith said circuit closer and shaft for moving said circuit closer to circuit closing position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in one direction and for moving said circuit closure to circuit opening position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in an opposite direction.

2. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor, having a mo tor ircuit a shaft adapted to be connected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, a worm operated by said motor and adapted to engage said gear, an arm carried by said shaft, a spring coiled about said shaft having its oppo iteends engaging said gear and arm respectively, a circuit closer carried by said gear, and means associated with said shaft and circuit closer for moving said circuit closer to circuit closing position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in one direction and for moving said circuit closer to circuit opening posit-ion upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in an opposite direction.

3. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor having a mo tor circuit, a shaft adapted to be connected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, a go 1 loosely mounted upon said shaft and operatively connected to said motor, yieldable means connecting said shaft with said gear for permitting a variable movement between said shaft and gear, a circuit closer carried by said gear, means co-operatively associated with said circuit closer and shaft for moving said circuit closer to circuit closing position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in one direction and for moving said circuit closer to circuit opening position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in the opposite direction, and auxiliary means connected in said motor circuit for rendering said electric motor inoperative during the record playing period notwithstanding the fact that said circuit closer has been moved to circuit closing position during the record playing period.

4-. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor having a motor circuit, a shaft adapted to be connected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft and operatively connected to said motor, yieldable means connecting said shaft with said gear for permitting a variable movement between said shaft and gear, a circuit closer carried by said gear, means co-operatively associated with said circuit closer and shaft for moving said circuit closer to circuit closing position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in one direction and for moving said circuit closer to circuit opening position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in the 0pposite direction, and auxiliary means connected in said motor circuit for rendering .aid electric motor inoperative during the record playing period notwithstanding the fact that said circuit closer has been moved to circuit closing position during the record playing period, the latter named means be ing in the form of a circuit closer adapted by necessity to be maintained in circuit opening position during the record playing period.

5. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor having a motor circuit, a shaft adapted to be connected to the winding arbor of the spring motor, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft and operatively connected to said motor, yieldable means connecting said shaft with said gear for permitting a variable movement between said shaft and gear, a circuit closer carried by said gear, means cooperatively as sociated with said circuit closer and shaft for moving said circuit closer to circuit closing position upon differential movement between said shaft-and gear in one direction and for moving said circuit closer to circuit opening position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in the opposite direction, and auxiliary means connected in said motor circuit for rendering said electricmotor inoperative during the record playing period notwithstandingthe fact that said circuit closer has been moved to circuit closing position during the record playing period, the latter named means he.

mg in the'form of a circuit closer adapted by necessity to be maintained in circuit opening position during the record playing period, and also by necessity maintained in circuit closing position during the record changing period. 7

6. A winding device for spring motors comprising an electric motor having a motor circuit, a shaft adapted to be connected tothe winding arbor of the spring motor, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft and operatively connected to said electric motor, yieldable means connecting said shaft with said gear for; permitting a variable movement between said shaft and gear, a circuit closer carried by said gear and means cooperatively associated with said circuit closer and shaft for moving said circuit closer to circuit closing position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in one direction and for moving said circuit closer to circuit opening position upon differential movement between said shaft and gear in an opposite direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JOHN R. TOMLIN. 

